The International Committee on Space Research awarded James L. Burch, GWSB MS ’73, its 2008 Jeoujang Jaw Award, bestowed jointly by COSPAR and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Burch is vice president of the Space Science and Engineering Division of Southwest Research Institute. The award recognizes scientists who have "made distinguished pioneering contributions to promoting space research, establishing new space science research branches and founding new exploration programs." Burch is the first recipient of the award, given in recognition of his leadership on the NASA Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission, which provided the first global images of the Earth's magnetosphere and demonstrated how the transport of charged particles in the Earth's space environment responds to variations in the solar wind.

Ed Busby GWSB BBA ’93, ESIA BA ’94, was elected partner at The Boston Consulting Group working in the Private Equity and Media practices. Ed reports that he been able to make great use of his International Business and Latin American Studies degrees and do extensive work overseas (U.K., France, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) in the past two months.

Jeremiah Davis, CCAS BA ’03, SPHHS MPH ’05, has been named a 2008-2009 HHMI-NIH Research Scholar. As a research scholar Davis will conduct hands-on biomedical research full time for a year at the National Institutes of Health campus, as part of this $4 million initiative by Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Deborah Gary, CCAS MA ’87, retired after 28 years of federal service – 14 years in the U.S. Air Force and 14 years with the Department of Defense. She recently relocated to Philadelphia, Penn.

Tina C. Jones, legal assistant certificate ’86, an author and teacher, published the article "Patriot Slave" in the July issue of American Legion magazine. The article is about Oscar Marion, an African American unsung hero of the American Revolutionary War who served with the infamous “Swamp Fox.” Jones is founder and president of the American Historical Interpretation Foundation.

Ari Kaplan, LAW JD ’97, a lawyer and writer based in the New York-area, published his first book, The Opportunity Maker:  Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development. The book, published by Thomson-West, is targeted at law students and lawyers and provides a variety of techniques for defining a personal brand, leveraging creativity, and maximizing success. After practicing for nearly nine years with large law firms in Manhattan, Kaplan now counsels professionals internationally on the art of getting published and dynamic networking.

David S. Kaplan, CCAS PhD ’85, a cell biologist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, received the Patrick G. Laing Award from American Society of Testing and Materials International Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices. Committee F04 cited Kaplan for “outstanding contributions to the work of the committee in developing standards for medical and surgical materials and devices.”

Sara Schultenover Kubicki, CCAS MS ’01, was inducted into the Battle Ground Academy Hall of Fame with five other alumni from the preparatory school in Franklin, Tenn. From 2001-2005, Kubicki was a Naval Criminal Investigative Unit (NCIU) agent. In 2002, she served as an interrogator at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she dealt with Al-Qaeda terrorists and other suspected terrorists. Currently, she is working with a Washington, D.C., think tank hired by the Pentagon to develop terrorist detainee regulations and policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay.

Earth Search Sciences Inc. announced the appointment of Luis F. Lugo, GWSB MBA ’96, ESIA MA ’96, as the company's CEO. Lugo brings experience in oil gas and other process industries. He previously served as director of finance and strategy for 3AG Distribution (Elf Aquitaine Oil Lubricants Venezuela), where he was involved in securing the capital investment and in developing the distribution system. Lugo also served as engagement manager of global chemicals and strategy practices for Arthur D. Little Management Consulting. As strategy analyst for BP Amoco, he developed analytical and financial modeling and valuation of acquisition targets for Latin America, Europe and East Asia.

William E. Olewiler, CCAS BA '66, and Nancy Olewiler

Sara Caitlin Sanchez Mayers, ESIA BA ’08, and Paul LaPlante are happy to announce their engagement and thank everyone who has sent them kind words! The wedding ceremony will take place in the Fall of 2010 in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Steven T. Miano, CCAS BS ’82, has joined the law firm of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin as a shareholder in the environmental law practice. Miano has been practicing environmental law for more than twenty years and his clients include industrial corporations, commercial entities and municipalities.

Aaron Moffett, CCAS BA ’99, will be attending the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games as a coach/leader for the US Paralympics Beijing Academy. An article from the US Olympic Committee can be read here.

William E. Olewiler, CCAS BA ’66, and Nancy Olewiler are happy to announce their marriage on April 26, 2008 in Fleming Island, Fla. They currently reside in Fleming Island.

Charlie Poekel CCAS BA '71

Charlie Poekel, CCAS BA ’71, has published a new book about Babe Ruth, Babe and the Kid: the Legendary Story about Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester. The book recounts the story of Babe Ruth hitting home runs for a sick boy. He spoke about his book at the Sports Museum of America in New York August 5.

Craig L. Wiener, LAW JD, ’88, and Nina Chang are happy to announce their marriage on June 7, 2008 at The University and Whist Club in Wilmington, Del. They currently reside in Wilmington.

IN MEMORIAM

Hélène Vernita Tyler, MAED ’83, died of cancer June 23 in Upstate New York after a stellar 20-year teaching career overseas with the Department of Defense Dependents School System. She was teaching at Lakenheath High School on the U.S. Air Force Base in England at the time of her illness. Hélène started her teaching career in Louisville, Ky., and shortly afterwards she moved to Maryland, where she taught school for several years in nearby Fairfax County, Va.